Prime Minister Scott Morrison is facing a damaging Coalition split on energy and a bitter Nationals row on leadership after he pushed back at demands to help fund a new coal-fired power plant in Queensland, widening a policy gulf inside the government just two months out from the election.

Moderate Liberals ridiculed their Nationals colleagues as unworkable and economically illiterate, with one, Brisbane MP Trevor Evans, describing proponents as “a very small and lonely minority whistling Dixie on this”.

Mr Morrison sparked concerns among the junior Coalition partner by countering calls for government help for the power project, putting him at odds with former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce in a new test for the "marriage" of the two parties.

Nationals MPs said they wanted the Prime Minister to fight harder for the Queensland project even if the state Labor government held out against it, saying the Coalition should "drag them to the table" to assure voters it was acting on electricity prices.

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The Queensland Nationals will keep pushing for coal projects in their state despite Mr Morrison's remarks, arguing that the extension or expansion of an existing coal-fired power station may not need state government approval and could be backed by a new federal underwriting scheme.

Mr Morrison argued that any Queensland coal-fired power project would not have support from the state government.

“I’m focused on things that we can actually do to keep the pressure down on power prices and ensure that we deliver the reliable and sustainable and renewable energy for the future,” he said.

Mr Morrison emphasised his support for “reliable and sustainable and renewable” energy as a practical way to bring down prices, a message believed to have more appeal to Liberal voters in the southern states than the Nationals’ base in the north.

Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Michael McCormack told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age he stood for “lower power prices” and the use of coal.

“I support moves to back coal-fired energy generation in Queensland because it still provides the majority of Australia’s energy needs; especially baseload power,” he said.

“I’ll continue to fight for the nation’s coal sector along with my colleagues in the Nationals because it generates more than 53,000 direct jobs – most of which are in regional communities.”

In an extraordinary day of disputes over leadership and energy, Mr Joyce infuriated his colleagues by declaring he remained the "elected deputy prime minister of Australia" despite resigning from the position last year after revelations he had left his wife to live with his former media adviser.

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Mr Joyce told ABC Radio National on Monday that he was not going to launch a leadership spill against Mr McCormack but he also indicated he had a claim to the job.

“If there was a spill and the position’s vacant, I am the elected deputy prime minister of Australia, so I’d have no, any guilt at all in standing but I don’t see that happening,” he said.

Mr Joyce rejected the idea he should soften his comments about coal power to avoid damaging the government’s chances in Liberal seats in the south, angering Liberals who believe his push for coal will make it harder for them to hold their seats.

“We are not married to the Liberal Party and we are a party,” Mr Joyce said.

McCormack hit back with a remark that hurt Mr Joyce with a reference to marriage.

“I understand what it takes to have a successful marriage and to make sure that we work together to build a better Australia,” Mr McCormack said.

Some Nationals privately blame Treasurer Josh Frydenberg for slowing the release of a shortlist of power projects that might receive financial support, believing he fears any support for coal would weaken his support in the blue-ribbon Liberal seat of Kooyong in Melbourne.

Nationals MPs dismissed the likelihood of a leadership spill inside the party that would return Mr Joyce to the leadership, but they also acknowledged the concern that Mr McCormack was not strong enough in supporting a coal-fired power project.

Nationals MPs want Energy Minister Angus Taylor to release a shortlist as soon as possible so voters can see which power projects might get Commonwealth assistance.

The government has received 66 expressions of interest for its underwriting scheme, including 10 coal projects, but the government will not say how many of the proposals are for coal-fired generators in Queensland.

The Nationals’ Michelle Landry holds Capricornia by just 0.6 per cent, Ken O’Dowd holds Flynn by 1 per cent and George Christensen holds Dawson by 3.3 per cent.